Reviews

Annika und der Stern von Kazan, by Eva Ibbotson

nora001's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

It was an okay book, I read it for school. I did not finish it because I started reading another book. It was quite slow in the beginning but got more interest. 

danicapage's review against another edition

3.0

It was an okay book. The plot dragged a little and it was hard to get into at first, but it was definitely a cute book. An easy read, but it does have an interesting plotline.

charlotte_lena's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

year62022's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Mayssa 

crwof's review against another edition

5.0

Read aloud, at a time when both our children were into Egyptians, so even as young children they were keen to follow the story. Eva Ibbotson was good writer, we've read a handful of her books and enjoyed them.

lindacbugg's review against another edition

4.0

Oh my! I loved this just as much as I did the last time I read it! Such a sweet story and just the ending you are hoping for. Also, this book has the Spanish Riding School and the Lippizaner stallions in it. What more could a girl ask for. I hope my nieces like it as much as me.

gwenhwyfar82's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

abigailbat's review against another edition

4.0

Annika has never celebrated a birthday. Instead, she celebrates her Found Day, which is the day she was found by Ellie and Sigrid and taken to live in the professors' house in Vienna. All her life, Annika has dreamed that her mother would come and find her and in her dreams, her mother is a fine lady. When Annika's mother actually shows up, she does not disappoint. She's dressed in the finest clothes and takes Annika out to a meal at the finest restaurant in town. Then she takes Annika with her back to Spittal, her ancestral home. From the moment Annika arrives, she senses that things are not quite right. There are paintings missing from the walls, the house is freezing, and the expensive vase that was in her room one day is gone the next. Then one happy day her mother comes back from a trip to Switzerland with the news that her godfather has passed away and left her a fortune. Annika thinks that Spittal is saved... but there's much she has yet to find out and it just might cost her everything to figure out the truth.

I think I loved this book because of the characters. Annika is a great character, very spunky and likeable, and she is supported by a varied cast of friends (and enemies). However, you can never truly be sure of who to trust. Things twist around and the story takes many turns. If you're looking for a great, sprawling story with a twisty plot and great characters, I recommend The Star of Kazan.

Readalike suggestions: The time period and rise & fall of fortune in the book reminded me very much of A Little Princess by Frances Hogdson Burnett. The spunky orphan triumping over sometimes conniving adults reminded me of Matilda by Roald Dahl.

samihah's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

bananzabean's review against another edition

I was scared the book was going to end in a sad way.